4 pedestrians struck by vehicle, 3 killed in South Shore crash that may have been intentional, officials say

At least four people were struck by a vehicle — possibly intentionally — in the South Shore area Sunday morning and three of the four later died at an area hospital, Chicago police said.

Authorities were called to the 7000 block of South Jeffery Boulevard near the border of the Jackson Park Highlands and South Shore neighborhoods around 5 a.m., according to an online statement from police. A sedan had been traveling south “when it struck four adult male pedestrians,” authorities said.

A graphic video posted online by CWBChicago appears to show the crash. In it, a white or silver sedan is traveling at a high rate of speed toward a group of six or more men standing in the street, possibly arguing. The sedan careens into the group without slowing down, sending some of the victims hurling through the air, as far as roughly 30 feet.

Three of the men were rushed by paramedics to University of Chicago Medical Center and later were pronounced dead. Their names and ages had not been released Sunday afternoon and officials with the Cook County medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A Chicago Fire Department spokesman said officials believe the crash was intentional.

Don Terry, a police spokesman, would not confirm whether the crash was an accident or intentional.

“Whatever is on the (online statement) is what we’re able to release right now,” Terry said.

The fire official said a fourth person was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious-to-critical condition. He also said they believe a fifth person may have been struck and that he or she was taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.

The response to a Tribune email to police containing questions did not contain any answers, but according to the online statement, the driver of the sedan remained at large as of 8 a.m. Authorities did not release additional information about the type of vehicle they were searching for.

“No updates are available,” the emailed response from police said.

Check back for updates.